Mary McKercher

McKercher, Mary Elizabeth, Egyptologist and beloved wife of Richard Fazzini of the Brooklyn Museum, died of an alarmingly aggressive kidney cancer on Aug. 17, 2023, at the age of 73. Armed with a camera, a B.A. in Ancient Near Eastern Studies from the University of Toronto, and some summer experience at digs in Israel, Mary was hired by Richard in the late 1970s as photographer and archeologist for a season of work at his excavation of the precinct of the temple of the goddess Mut in Luxor, Egypt. They met on the flight out of New York and were engaged by the time they flew back. Over the next four decades Mary and Richard spent many, many dig seasons in Luxor, most recently in 2023. As assistant director of the dig, photographer, research associate, trained archaeologist, and composer of annual online “dig diaries,” she contributed in tangible and intangible ways to her husband’s scholarly work on the ancient Egypt. She and Richard also developed a passion for what’s known as Egyptomania, modern artistic endeavors of all sorts inspired by the art of ancient Egypt. Mary was predeceased by her parents, Douglas and Dorothy McKercher of Ottawa, Canada, and her youngest brother, Bill. In addition to her beloved Richard, she is survived by her sister Catherine (Vincent Mosco) of Ottawa, brother Bob (Sau Lai) of Brisbane, Australia, and nieces Rosemary, Madeline and Eve-Louise.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that friends and supporters make donations to the Egyptian collection at the Brooklyn Museum in Mary's honor.